Winner of the 2009 Monk International Bass Competition, Ben Williams is set to release his sophomore album Coming of Age April 21st on Concord Records. The album features Williams’ band Sound Effect, comprised of Marcus Strickland (tenor and soprano saxophone), Matthew Stevens (guitar), Christian Sands (piano and Fender Rhodes), Masayuki “Big Yuki” Hirano (synths and Fender Rhodes), John Davis (drums) and Etienne Charles (percussion) as well as special guests trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah on the cover of Lianne La Havas’ “Lost & Found”, vibraphonist Stefon Harris on “The Color of My Dreams”, emcee/poet W. Ellington Felton on “Toy Soldiers (reprise)” and American soul singer Goapele on “Voice of Freedom (for Mandela)”. The album features nine original compositions by Williams as well as the aforementioned cover of Lianne La Havas’’ “Lost & Found” and a solo bass rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells LIke Teen Spirit”. Check out the short EPK below the jump. You can preorder the album on Amazon (CD & Vinyl).
CD TRACK LISTING:
1. Black Villain Music (4:26)
2. Strength and Beauty (5:25)
3. Half Steppin’ (7:21)
4. Voice of Freedom (for Mandela) featuring Goapele (4:44)
5. Toy Soldiers (8:03)
6. Lost & Found (6:19)
7. Forecast (8:15)
8. The Color of My Dreams (8:03)
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit (3:20)
10. Toy Soldiers (Reprise) (2:42)
11. Coming of Age (7:53)
VINYL TRACK LISTING:
Side A
1. Black Villain Music (4:26)
2. Voice of Freedom (for Mandela) featuring Goapele (4:44)
3. Toy Soldiers (8:03)
4. Lost & Found (6:19)
Side B
1. Half Steppin’ (7:21)
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit (3:20)
3. Toy Soldiers (Reprise) (8:03)
4. Coming of Age (7:53)
Sébastien Hélary co-founded Nextbop in 2009 with the objective of introducing modern jazz music to a younger generation of fans. Aside from music, his other main obsession is food, particularly ramen and other Japanese delicacies.
